Keeping tabs

Vince Hemmeter tends his own bar

by John O'Neill

The name Vince Hemmeter may not be immediately recognizable to the local club-hopper, but for the past dozen years he was a fixture: the fellow with the friendly smile and easygoing attitude behind the stick at Ralph's Diner. He was also the most important and in- fluential behind-the-scenes man in local music, booking bands to play what was the area's premier live-music nightspot. A chance to play Ralph's on a weekend night was instant credibility for area acts; and its reputation as the "in" place to play registered nationally. Living Colour, Tracy Bonham, Jen Trynan, and the Bush Tetras were the more recognizable names to stand on the Blue Moon Saloon stage this decade, but it was Hemmeter's eclectic and generally excellent taste that made any weekend a potential adventure. From the metal/hip-hop of Chillum to the Mad Daddys' psych/glam to the straight-ahead surf of the Fathoms, Hemmeter booked the most diverse roster of talent in the city.

Although Ralph's stopped hosting music on a regular basis this past year and business in general was suffering, it still came as a shock when Hemmeter announced he was leaving to open up his own bar. It was an even bigger shock that he'd set up practice at the old Pignataro's on Suffolk Street. Once a great neighborhood bar with a reputation for the coldest beer in the city, Pignataro's had slowly deteriorated into what could be called a shithole. But Vince took what had become a beaten-down, old barroom and turned it into, well, an older barroom.

"The day we signed the papers we came in here and worked non-stop for two weeks. Things went very smoothly" he says while taking a brief break from bar duty. "We brought this back to the way it looked. It had two drop ceilings to go through, and we found tongue and groove at the top, which made us very happy." Add to that a new bartop and bar facing and refurbishing the bathrooms, exposing the original wall, adding a new barback, making a few structural changes and you now have a room that is both esthetically pleasing and remarkably cozy.

From the neon sign proclaiming "This Is It" (bonus points to those who can figure out where this homage originates) to the deer head over the door, Vincent's, which opened December 23 and will start serving lunch and dinner in January, represents everything a good neighborhood bar is about -- something for everyone. Clean, homey, unassuming, it's the type of place where anyone who walks in can feel instantly at ease within surroundings that feel familiar yet still maintain a low-key sense of hipness. Various mystery, adult, and JD book covers with titles like "H Is for Heroin," "Let Them Eat Bullets," "Pick Up on Noon Street" and "The Big Sleep" line the customized bartop, old Worcester-based photos line the walls as do a small menagerie of stuffed critters, including a skunk holding potato sticks. The jukebox runs the gamut from old standbys like Clapton and Zep to more interesting selections like the Amazing Royal Crowns, Preacher Jack, and Las Vegas Grind.

Cool? You bet. But while Vincent's is hip, it's the return to the past that makes it so. Not even remotely trendy, its appeal comes in the overall flavor of the bar -- it's simply an extension of Hemmeter's lifestyle. "It's personal preference. I've always bought vintage clothing and collected antiques. I like the craftsmanship of older architecture." he says. "Since we've opened, all of the old regulars have been really positive and somewhat pleased that their worst fears weren't realized."

As for entertainment? "I'd like to get a player piano in here," says Hemmeter with a smile. "I do have a licensee for an outside patio, so maybe I could do something. I miss the bands a lot. Some of my strongest friendships are with bands. I'd love for them to stop by."

As the afternoon dwindles to twilight Vincent's begins to fill. Old neighborhood regulars begin to trickle in as do a few scenesters who've heard the news that the tavern is up and running. All seem to talk about how pleased they are with the new bar, offering compliments and praise to Vince Hemmeter who, of course, smiles that friendly smile. "This has always been a dream, and I was lucky to find a good place. People couldn't believe I wanted this place, but I could see beyond the drop ceiling and the paneling. I'd like this to be a comfortable, warm place where people can come and eat and have spirits."

Judging from this evening's crowd and the vibe that prevails, I'd say Vince has succeeded once again.